One Tree Planted

I'm planting a tree for every new subscriber in 2017. REally.

Why? Because I care about sustainability and restoration, and wanted to find a way to connect small, everyday actions with creating a healthier world.

I also tend to question the conventional advice of marketing experts who say you need to entice subscribers with things, like content and bonus offerings. As a content strategist, I'm in full support of great opt-in offers, in fact I've created many for freelance clients and the organizations I've worked with because they are effective, but I was also curious about whether offering something... different, indirect yet meaningful on a global scale, could also work. If you're reading this, clearly it sparked some interest, right?

I'll still create a special content guide, but instead of making it an incentive to subscribe it'll be a delightful bonus to existing subscribers. It's an experiment in conscious marketing.

To make this promise happen, I'm partnering with Onetreeplanted.org, a foundation based in Vermont that works with reforestation entities all over the world. I got the chance to speak with the founder - Matt Hill, who miraculously took my call while he was in Costa Rica checking out nurseries and meeting with the people who are doing the work on the ground - and got a feel for just how this organization works. This is legit, they really plant trees, one tree for every $1 donated, so I'll donate $1 for every new subscriber by the end of the year.

Why does planting trees matter?

1. There's too much carbon in the air and not enough trees to absorb it, because humanity has destroyed so many forests. More trees planted will absorb more carbon from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate climate change.

2. They produce oxygen, which all animals - including humans - need to live. Living is good.

3. Trees provide ecosystems for earth's many living organisms, without which we'd have a very boring planet. Forests contain over 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity.

4. They prevent soil erosion, so lands can be stable and fertile, contributing to sustainable agriculture, reducing global hunger, and reducing drought.

5. They provide temperature control, keeping the earth cool in the face of rising global temperatures, and contributing to more energy efficiency.

6. Trees communicate via fascinating and vast networks, providing a source of natural intelligence that is part of the foundation for all life.

7. They absorb excess water in cases of floods, and filter toxins from polluted waters.

8. They have a calming effect on humans, reducing stress and anxiety, regulating heart rate, and soothing the nervous systems. Don't we all need a little more of that?